Comment on ‘Beta-blockers increase response to chemotherapy via direct anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic mechanisms in neuroblastoma’

We read with great interest the article published in British Journal of Cancer titled ‘ β -Blockers increase response to chemotherapy via direct anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic mechanisms in neuroblastoma’ by Pasquier et al (2013 ). The study provided further evidence that β -blockers potentiated the anti-tumour and anti-angiogenic effects of vincristine in neuroblastoma. Moreover, the data revealed that β -blockers significantly slowed neuroblastoma progression when used alone. We appreciate the authors’ extraordinary contribution, which provides us with a pharmacological basis for the potential use of β -blockers in neuroblastomas. Nonetheless, there are several major points that need further discussion with respect to this article.